Mainstream Media Shocked to Discover Their Own Stereotypes Not True
Apparently, they are still surprised crunchy cons like Rod Dreher and hippie capitalists like John Mackey exist.
Wonder if they’ll next discover left-wing statist profiteers like Al Gore and the UN’s Rajendra Pachauri, who both make millions with their Ponzi carbon credit scheme while pushing the global warming hoax.
Sorry – Christmas, etc. Got in the Way
Been busy plus Christmas takes precedence over pretty much everything. Will be back to regular posting and with some big changes next week.
Until then, just remember 2009 brought us two firsts — the first two terror attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11.
B+
Wait, What’s Venezeula’s Primary Export?
Here Are the Unredacted, Secret TSA Screening Guidelines
Courtesy your friendly incompetent TSA. Don’t abuse them, kids.
(Betcha can’t wait til they put medical records online.)
Why Principle Is More Important Than Pragmatism
On deadline again and dealing with family stuff, but meanwhile, this may be one of the more brilliant pieces I’ve read lately.
Sample:
At the heart of the Left’s indulgence of political corruption lies the mistaken conviction that “public service” transforms politicians into exemplars of civic virtue, or that political office attracts a large percentage of such civic-minded individuals. In reality, the political class is even more greedy and selfish than wealthy businessmen… because they spend much of their time in the company of such wealthy men, and believe themselves entitled to riches and luxuries. Max Baucus doubtless attends a lot of campaign events sponsored by rich supporters who can afford to fly their girlfriends to Europe for a romantic getaway, and he believes himself morally and intellectually superior to these men – the remorseless logic of statism demands it. It only makes sense to place politicians in control of industry if they’re better than the industrialists they control, after all.
Doctor Zero doesn’t spare the right-wing trough-feeders, either. Full piece here.
Good for the Goose
Every once in a while, a glimmer of sunlight peeks out and someone notices the “civil servants” are acting a little too much like civil masters.
Congressmen John Carter (R-TX) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) yesterday introduced the Geithner Penalty Waiver Act, requiring that the IRS assess the same penalty against U.S. taxpayers that came forward in the UBS tax fraud investigation as paid by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for failing to pay taxes on his IMF income — zero. From Congressman Carter’s press release:
Carter says the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates equal penalties for similar offenses, and that the failure of the IRS to assess any penalties against Geithner demands similar penalties for all taxpayers with substantially equivalent cases. “This bill seeks to codify what is now established by the law of precedent,” says Carter. “The Geithner case has established a legal precedent for the determination of penalties by the IRS, and that precedent can be cited in all federal tax courts. The penalty is now set at zero.” “Taxpayers who willfully attempt to evade paying their fair taxes should pay a penalty, or our tax code becomes unenforceable,” says Carter. “This bill is not to reward tax evaders, but to defend the Rule of Law itself. If we as a nation choose not to enforce the law against the politically privileged, then we cannot enforce the law against others without undermining respect for the law itself.”